Timothy Moran, Democratic candidate in the Kansas House District 42 race, to chat

October 23, 2008

Democrat Timothy Moran, who is running for Kansas House of Representatives, District 42 will be chatting online at 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 23.

This chat has already taken place. Read the transcript below.

Moderator

Welcome to our online chat today with Timothy Moran, Democratic candidate for the Kansas House of Representatives, District 42 seat.I'm Shawn Linenberger, news editor at The Mirror, and I'll be moderating today's chat. We remind our readers that they may submit questions for Timothy.

October 23, 2008at 3 p.m.

Moderator

We would like to welcome Timothy to today's chat.

October 23, 2008at 3:03 p.m.

Moderator

As we wait for submitted questions, let's talk about this race.Timothy, during the campaign, in talking with voters and interacting at forums, what are the main concerns they are sharing with you? How do you plan to address those issues?

October 23, 2008at 3:06 p.m.

Timothy Moran

Thank you for giving me th chance to tlk with your readers today, I am happy to be here.

October 23, 2008at 3:09 p.m.

Timothy Moran

The cost of health care has been one of th most asked quetions I have received. Not so much as having it but rather the cost of the coverage and the ability to tailor it to the individual needs of the person or the family.Health care needs to be affordable, flexible, and transportable in the state. Affordable to the young working person and family with out taking up a large precentge of their pay check. Flexible to be tailored to the coverage they feel they need and able to follow them around if they move from job to job or to another city in Kansas.

October 23, 2008at 3:14 p.m.

Timothy Moran

Worry about taxes is the second biggest concern I have heard and how are the taxes slowing down job growth and people moving into the area.

October 23, 2008at 3:16 p.m.

Timothy Moran

We need to control the growth of the state budget and bring the budget back in line with the tax base of our state. We need to be smarter and look at waste or duplication to control costs. Additionally we need to base the funding of agencies upon needs and not wants.

Moderator

I would like to know Mr. Moran's thoughts on the health care crisis in the state and what he suggests we can do about it.

October 23, 2008at 3:05 p.m.

Timothy Moran

Health care is major concern and we need to work with the state insurance office and the larger businesses in the state to allow individuals and small businesses to join the pools of insurance coverage to keep the cost of health insurance afforable, while providing the coverage needed for the working people and the small business owners of the state.

Moderator

As a self-proclaimed fiscal conservative and social moderate, what areas of the budget do you plan to cut to bring it into balance?

October 23, 2008at 3:14 p.m.

Timothy Moran

I have found in balancing budgets in the past, one needs to keep in mind the core or key functions of the state. They need to be funded at a level to keep their services at the level residents expect. Other areas of the state budget that do not provide or support these key functions are the areas that need to be looked at for reduction in funding, or mergering into another function to cut costs. If you are looking for a specific agancy, there is the state arts comission and the state fair comission have have grown over the past few years. Are these growths based upon a need or the want of the agency to do more? I think from looking at the state budget and the requested 5% cut for thenext budget agencies like them are where we will need to look hard at to reduce and these will be tought choices for services will be cut back.

October 23, 2008at 3:32 p.m.

Moderator

Timothy Moran

I would have supported the construction of one Holcomb power plant to provide the needed energy, job growth and economic growth in the area of Holcomb. The export of the energy to other states is good for because it brings in funds from outside of the state reducing taxes. The plant would also have provied the bridge with power lines and other related systems to let the further development of other efficient power sources to be develped to reduce our future dependence on carbon and fossil fuels preserving our environment.

Moderator

What abilities do you bring to the job that your opponent does not? Better stated, why should I vote for you instead of her?

October 23, 2008at 3:19 p.m.

Timothy Moran

Experience working with large multi-million dollar budgets. Experience working with a diverse groups of people who all wanted their specific concern advanced, but who throught tough but focused cooperation and compromise by all parites were able to deliver the items and service on time and on budget. Additonally, I have a Masters in Business and I have worked in the business world, and I have looked people in the eye and told them 'No' we are not going to give you the requested funding, and here is why. I think people should consider the potential the candidate has to be an effective representative for all the people of the district. Future preformance is a result of past preformance, and I feel in the area of fiscial management I have a wider scope of experience to use when making decisions on the state budget.

If there was one core ideal, value, or message you would want voters to think of when they see your name on the ballot, what would it be?

October 23, 2008at 3:51 p.m.

Timothy Moran

IntegrityMy word is my bond, my signature is binding. I do not make promises, give pledges, or take vows lightly. I am a person of my word and I am know as a honest, fair, listen to people and I do what I say I am going to do.

October 23, 2008at 3:58 p.m.

Moderator

That is all the time we have for questions. Thank you to our readers for their questions.And thanks to Timothy Moran for chatting with us today.